Australia v. New Zealand @ Melbourne Cricket Ground
An unfriendly is more like it.
Socceroos will have GK Schwarzer & F/M Kewell unavailable.
All Whites likely will challenge North Korea for weakest squad in RSA next month. But given the rivalry, I think they have a chance to grind out a result.
Japan v. South Korea @ Saitama Stadium
Another, even bitter, rivalry. Earlier this year, S. Korea defeated Japan 3-1 in Tokyo in winning the E. Asian Champ.
Both squads were w/o euro players and their inclusion change the dynamic tho it would appear the Taeguk Warriors will benefit the most. I am wary as Coach Huh has downplayed this meeting in the media even as his counterpart Japan's Okada has noted the significance of this match. Chu Yong Park, who didn't play in the recent friendly v. Ecuador will get time apparently.
Japan's mgr Okada is, as throughout the qualification process, under fire. A string of recent disappointing games has only fanned the flames. According to the Asahi News: Okada decided not to let four players, defender Atsuto Uchida, midfielders Junichi Inamoto and Daisuke Matsui, and forward Keiji Tamada, play the South Korea match due to injury.
An unfriendly is more like it.
Socceroos will have GK Schwarzer & F/M Kewell unavailable.
All Whites likely will challenge North Korea for weakest squad in RSA next month. But given the rivalry, I think they have a chance to grind out a result.
Japan v. South Korea @ Saitama Stadium
Another, even bitter, rivalry. Earlier this year, S. Korea defeated Japan 3-1 in Tokyo in winning the E. Asian Champ.
Both squads were w/o euro players and their inclusion change the dynamic tho it would appear the Taeguk Warriors will benefit the most. I am wary as Coach Huh has downplayed this meeting in the media even as his counterpart Japan's Okada has noted the significance of this match. Chu Yong Park, who didn't play in the recent friendly v. Ecuador will get time apparently.
Japan's mgr Okada is, as throughout the qualification process, under fire. A string of recent disappointing games has only fanned the flames. According to the Asahi News: Okada decided not to let four players, defender Atsuto Uchida, midfielders Junichi Inamoto and Daisuke Matsui, and forward Keiji Tamada, play the South Korea match due to injury.
